Electric cable



sept. 29, 1936.

J. J, ALLES ELECTRIC CABLE original Filed June 18. 1930 lTED STTES PATENT @FFE 2,il56,il85

ELECTRIC CABLE .Fehn J. Alles, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

Application June l, i930, Serial No. 462,087 Renewed .anuary Z5, 1935 4 Claims. (Cl. 17E-234) The invention relates to electric cables and An equally important object of the invention more particularly has reference to a method and is the location of a fault due to electrolysis in an means for detecting and locating :faults therein. electric cable before moisture has reached the Electric cables constructed in accordance with conductors of the cable. the usual practice are formed of a plurality of Another object'of the invention is the devising 5 insulated cable conductors which are grouped of an indicating conductor in the form of a together and are wrapped with one or more laymetallic ribbon adapted to be associated with an ers of covering material, which besides functionelectric cable. ing as an insulator is usually of the moisture Still another object of the invention is the l repellent type and also serves to bind the conprovision of an indicating conductor in the form l0 ductors together. Some practice, however, inof a wire gauze or mesh tape adapted to be asstead of forming the covering insulation or moissociated with an electric cable for locating faults ture repellent material, makes use of a brous therein. material such as paper, which is moisture ab- Yet another object of the invention is the l5 sorbent. Whichever of these practices is iolassociation with an electric cable of an indicating l5 lowed the cable construction formed is usually conductor in the form of a metallic strip which encased within a sheath generally of lead, alis wound upon the core of the cable in a spiral. though in some instances a non-metallic sheath A further object of the invention is the prois employed. Substantially the same practice is vision of an electric cable having a metallic ribfollowed when a cable having a single conductor bon indicating conductor spirally wound adjais formed. cent the insulating and moisture repellant cover- 2g As is well known, cables covered with moisture ing over the cable conductors or conductor, and repellent insulation or with insulation which aba moisture absorbent insulation wound over the sorbs moisture, frequently become impaired due indicating conductor, the whole construction beto moisture coming in contact with the coning placed within a sheath. 5 ductors, or due to mechanical injury to the cable A still further object oi the invention is the itself. It is thus impossible to locate a fault in provision oi an electric cable having a plurality the cable due to electrolysis or the entering of of metallic indicating conductors inthe form ci water through the cable coverings into the conm ribbons or tapes spirally wound adjacent the ductors until the conductors are actually short insulating and moisture repellent covering over` 39,'

circuited and successful use of the cable is ar-= the cable conductor or conductors, and a moisrested. 'To locate the exact position oi the fault, ture absorbent insulation wound over the indithe cable is tested by means ci a Varley or eating conductors, the whole construction being Murray loop. This procedure necessarily places encased within a non-metallic sheath.

5 the damaged cable out of service during the time An additional object of the invention is to 3s consumed by the test, as a high voltage current provide an indicator conductor substantially suris passed through the cable in order that the test rounding the insulating and moisture repellent may be carried out. Aside from the loss of time covering over a cable conductor and having a due to the testing, the cable is frequently left in resistance greater than the resistance oi a solid 4@ an impaired condition., 4 conductor or the same material and dimensions. 4Q

While constructions for associating an indicat- With these and other objects in view, which ing conductor with an electric cable, for the purmay be incident to my improvements, the inpose of detecting faults therein, have been devention consists in the parts and combinations vised, they have possessed a complicated. and to be hereinafter set forth and claimed, with the necessarily an expensive design. Moreover, the understanding that the several necessary elec 1 5 surface area of the cable core covered by such ments comprising my invention may be varied in indicating conductors has been relatively small construction, proportions and arrangement withso that there is a great possibility of moisture out departing from the spirit and scope oi the seeping through the cable and into the conducappended claims- 5@ tors without being detected. The invention comprehends the provision of a 5G The major object of my invention is the promethod and means for detecting and locating vision of a method and means which ameliorate faults in an electric cable. One method of prac the disadvantages of the prior art for quickly tically effecting the concept of the invention is and accurately detecting and locating a fault in the association with a cable having one or more an electric cable. insulated conductors additionally bound with' 55 other insulating and Water repellent material, of one or more metallic ribbons or tapes, employed as indicating conductors. A cable thus constructed is wrapped with moisture absorbent insulation and the case is placed within a sheath.

The invention further comprehends the provi-l sion of means to be employed in conjunction with the indicating conductor or conductors to indicate when a fault has occurred.

In order to make my invention more clearly understood, I have shown in the accompanying drawing, means for carrying the same into practical eiect without limiting the improvements in their useful applications to the particular constructions, which for the purpose of explanation, have been made the subject of illustration.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a partial horizontal sectional view of one form of electric cable showing an insulating conductor associated therewith.

Figure 2 is a vertical section along the line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a partial horizontal sectional view of a cable having a plurality of indicating con-- ductors associated therewith.

Figure 4 is a Vertical sectional view along the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a partial horizontal sectional view of a slightly modied form of cable and different type of indicating conductor.

' Throughout the drawing similar reference numerals refer to like parts in the diierent views. There is shown in Figures 1 and 2, an electric cable having a plurality of conductors I, which are separately insulated by means of the conductor insulation 2 of rubber or other suitable material. As may be observed from Figure 2, a

suitable ller 3, for example a jute ller, is

placed between the cable conductors.

For the purpose of binding the cable conductors together, as well as to aiord further insulation, and to prevent moisture from reaching the cable conductors, a suitable moisture repellent material 4 is wrapped around the cable conductors and the ller. The material 4 may be of rubber treated cloth or tape, or any other desired substance of this nature.

While in Figures 1 and 2 only one wrapper or layer of moisture repellent material 4 is employed, this construction need not necessarily be followed.- In fact it is preferable to employ a plurality of layers of repellent material 4 so as to substantially prevent the seeping of moisture into the cable conductors. Such a construction is disclosed in Figure 5 where the conductors are wrapped with three layers of moisture repellent material 4, 4 and 4".

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of an indicating conductor adapted to be associatedwith an lelectric cable for the purpose of locating faults in the cable. A conductor of this type is shown in Figures 1 and 2 where a metallic ribbon 5 is wound around the wrapping or covering material 4 over the cable conductors. 'As may be observed, the indicating conductor is spiralled around the covering 4 and extends for the full length of the cable.

The indicating conductor may be formed of thin copper, although it is to be understood that or thickness as obviously a variation in either or both of these dimensions may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Over the metallic ribbon 5 there is placed a suitable wrapping of absorbent insulating material 6. Paper, I have found, works very satisfactorily, although other materials which possess insulating and absorbing qualities may be used. This material may be made up in the form of a ribbon and may be closely wound over the indicating conductor so that it forms a continuous uninterrupted covering for the indicating conductor.

The cable core having been formed as described and the indicating conductor and absorbent insulation having been associated there- With, it is placed Within a. lead sheath 1. It is to be understood, however, that a sheath formed of a metal or metals other than lead may be employed if desired. Also, as will hereinafter appear, a sheath I formed of a non-metallic material, shown in Figure 3, may be used.

When the indicating conductor of Figure 1 is employed with the cable, a source of electricity 8 is connected through the magnetizing coil of a relay 9, to the indicating conductor at any suitable point I0. The source of electricity is also connected at I0' to the lead sheath 1. Relay 9 is provided with a suitable indicator II adapted to indicate the closing of the circuit between the indicating conductor 5 and the lead sheath 1.

In operation, it will be apparent that should any moisture seep through the lead sheath, it will be at once attracted by the moisture absorbent material 6, and upon such an event occurring, a circuit through the lead sheath and the indicating conductor will be closed. As the result of such a circuit being set up, the relay 9 is affected, and this may be observed by the actuation of the indicating device I I. It is thus apparent that there is a fault in the cable.

To locate the exact position of the fault, a test is run employing the principles of the Wheatstone bridge for measuring resistances. The resistances of the bridge being known and also the resistance per linear foot of the indicating conductor, the position of the fault may be located.

The fault having been located, it may be remedied in the usual manner.

In the place of using a solid metallic ribbon, a gauze tape of a comparatively ne mesh may be employed for the indicating conductor. This construction is disclosed in Figure 5 where a gauze mesh ribbon I2 is disclosed. As in the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1 and 2, a similar means for detecting and locating a fault, that is the source of electricity with relay and indicator, is shown.

In the event that the cable is to be encased in a non-metallic sheath 1', a plurality of indicating conductors are needed. In Figure 3 a cable similar to that of Figure 1 is provided with two metallic gauze mesh ribbon indicating conductors I3 and I4. These indicating conductors are spiralled around the wrapping 4, in a manner previously described, and are covered with a moisture absorbing insulation 6.

It should be noted that the indicating conductors I3 and I4 are separated from each other and are wrapped in the same direction so that corresponding points on each conductor lie substantially in the same plane. However, this practice need not be followed. lFor example, the indicator conductors could be wrapped in opposite direc- CII acta-oss tions to each other so that they cross one another. With such a modification, it would be necessary that the moisture absorbent material 6 be placed between the two indicating conductors. Thus one indicator conductor would be placed around this covering 4, the moisture absorbing material placed over it, and the second indicating conductor wrapped over the moisture absorbent material B.

Instead ol providing a single wrapping of repellent material 4, two additional wrappings t' and t could be used.

irrespective of the manner in which the two indicating conductors of Figures 3 and 4 are placed around the covering material il, one of the conductors is connected at l5 to 4one side of a source of electricity 8' through a relay 9', and the other indicator conductor is also connected as shown at I6, to the source of electrical energy. As in the previous cases, just described, it is evident that upon moisture seeping through sheath l' it will be immediately attracted by the moisture absorbent material B, and a circuit established between the indicating conductors which will cause the indicator il of the relay to be actuated. The fault may then be located in a manner similar to that previously mentioned.

In all of the modifications disclosed, it will be appreciated that besides being of great advantage in detecting faults in the cables due to the occur rence of electrolysis, a mechanical fault may also be determined. For example, should the sheath of the cable be ruptured or bent in such a manner as to cause the sheath and indicating conductor to contact, a circuit between them would be set up and the relay actuated. Where a plurality or" indicating conductors are employed, upon contact being made between them due to mechanical injury, a similar result would occur.

lt has been pointed out that in the usual manner of locating cable faults, itis necessary to place the cable out of commission. This procedure is of course obviated in the construction which E have disclosed. In the method employed for loeating faults, a high voltage is sent through the cable conductor, which is thought to be damaged, and the metallic sheath so as to cause an are be-= tween the same to carbonize the insulation in the :ller 3 and covering material il, in order to reduce the fault resistance to as low a value as possible. lt necessarily follows that with such procedure 'there is a great possibility of leaving the cable seri-= ousiy injured after locating the fault. Such a condition can not occur with the use or" the indiu eating conductor or conductors, as these niet bers are employed to locate the fault, and not the cable conductors themselves.

Another feature oi the invention resides in the that moisture is substantially `prevented irons reaching the cable conductors themselves, because oi the' moisture repellent material placed around thorn. Moreover any moisture adjacent the material il is Quickly detected before basa chance to worlr through the material to con-= ductors. The quickness of the detection the fault is greatly increased area oi the cable covered by the indicating conductors, whether one or a pair oi theirs. are used. and also because the entire cable core is covered with the moisture absorbent insulation.

Each conductor which extends around and around the cable, is of a comparatively great width, and there is a comparatively small distance separating each spiral. Hence it may be observed that the surface area of the moisture repellent ecause of the great material l is substantially covered, and because of the high moisture absorbent characteristic of the insulation t, any moisture thereon will immediately aid in creating a circuit between the indicating conductor and the lead sheath, or between the two indicating conductors when a nonmetallic sheath is employed.

In the method used for locating faults in the usual type of cable, such as those previously described, a high fault resistance is obtained. This is due to the 4fact that the injured conductor and the lead sheath must be connected at the point where the fault occurs. The distance between any cable conductor and the lead sheath is comioaratively great, and this alone aiords a high fault resistance. However, consideration must also be given to the fact that between any cable conductor and the sheath there are a number of thicknesses of material which must be broken down before the conductive path can be established.

By the use of the indicating conductor it is apparent that the distance of this path of now for the current is greatly decreased as the indieator conductor is separated from the sheath only by a thin layer of absorbent material. Moreover, there is but little resistance oiered by the moisture absorbent material t after it has become moist. Tests which I have conducted show that with one drop of water on the moisture absorbent insulation, a fault resistance or" between and 50 ohms is obtained.

It may also be observed that the indicating con.. ductors have a comparatively high resistance when compared to a cable conductor, especially where large cable conductors are employed. The resistance here referred to is that of the cable 'conductor itself, and is to be distinguished from the fault resistance or that oiiered to a current passing from a damaged conductor to the lead sheath in locating faults. As is well known, dif.- culty ls encountered in measuring small resistn ances, and as methods for locating the position of :faults depend upon the measurement of the resistances, the advantage of using a thin inetallic ribbon instead of one of the cable conductors is at on apparent.

All of the cab' e constructions disclosed present l a conlparativelg.7 smooth core adapted to receive the lead shea or other cover, and because of the simplicity construction of the indicating conductors th ay be readily quickly secured to o" ole sections when it is necessary to splice two c i es. The cable as a whole is simple design "wi a simple and'eective indicatu ing means associated therewith. This is evidenced by the fact no special construction for the cable core is needed in order to secure the inw dicating conductoYW thereon, it being possible to employ the il licating conductors and the moisture absorbing insulation with any type oi cable design.

From the foregoing description it will be an iareciated tha' `nave designed a novel cable and a method air.l 'means ior detecting and locating faults therein. addition to this a simple and eiective indicating conductor is associated with the cable which may be employed to locate `faults without the loss ci the service of the cable itself. lt will also be ap` reciated that the detection of moisture within the cable sheath occurs before the moisture seeos into the cable conductors, and the fault ma be remedied in any convenient man.. ner without the possibility of impairing the 'cable for further use while testing it to locate the fault,

With these advantages, it will be apparent that I haveI designed a cable which is of a simple and compact design, and which at the same time is of relatively inexpensive construction.

I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details of construction herein set forth, for example, the indicator conductors have been specifically described as being meshed, but it is intended and contemplated as a part of this invention that intersticed, perforated or aper- `tured conductors that will perform the generic function of having a greater resistance than the resistance of a solid conductor of the same dimensions and material may be used.

Although specific illustrative embodiments of the invention have been described in some detail, it is to be understood that changes, additions, substitutions and omissions may be made therein within the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

l. An electric cable having a conductive core encased within a metallic sheath, a plurality of layers of moisture repellent insulation positioned around said core, a metallic mesh indicating conductor spirally wrapped around the outermost layer of moisture repellent insulation and moisture absorbent insulation wrapped over the indicating conductor, said indicating conductor adapted to be employed for detecting and locating faults in the electric cable.

2. An electric cable having a conductive core, a plurality of layers of moisture repellent insula.- tion positioned around said core, a plurality of metallicribbon indicating conductors of a mesh construction, said indicating conductors being spirally wrapped around the cable core so that they do not cross each other, moisture absorbent insulation wrapped over the indicating conductors, the whole construction being encased within a protective sheath, said indicating conductors adapted to be employed to detect and locate faults in the cable.

3. An electric cable 'comprising a conductor core, moisture repellent insulation surrounding the conductor core, an indicating conductor having interstices therein wrapped spirally around the moisture repellent insulation, moisture absorbent insulation Wrapped over the indicating conductor, and a metallic sheath encasing the moisture absorbent insulation.

4. An electric cable including a conductor core, moisture repellent insulation surrounding theconductor core, an indicating conductor Wrapped spirally around the moisture repellent insulation, said`indicating lconductor having a resistance greater than the resistance of a solid conductor of the same material and over-al1 dimensions, moisture absorbent insulation wrapped about the indicator conductor, and a protective sheath encasing the moisture absorbent insulation.

JOHN J. ALLES. 

